The Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced a turbulent trading session on Monday. The benchmark KSE-100 index closed lower after a late sell-off erased all early gains. The index finished at 161,687, down 248.01 points or 0.15 per cent. This decline followed a strong start. The index rallied to an intraday high of 163,602.16 by midday. However, momentum weakened throughout the afternoon.
Market sentiment was heavily influenced by key economic data and political developments. Pakistan’s current account balance for October 2025 recorded a deficit of $112 million. This was a notable reversal from the $83 million surplus reported in September.
The shift raised immediate concerns among investors about the country’s external account health. Concurrently, political uncertainty stemmed from a report in The Economist. It alleged the involvement of an incarcerated premier’s wife in past government decision-making, creating significant uproar. These factors, combined with ongoing law-and-order concerns, fostered a cautious environment that ultimately triggered profit-taking.
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The session displayed a clear split in sector performance. Upward support for the index came from stocks such as Fauji Fertiliser, Pioneer Cement, and K-Electric. Kohinoor Textile, Pakistan Petroleum, and Sui Northern Gas also made positive contributions. On the other hand, major laggards that dragged the benchmark lower included Lucky Cement, United Bank, and Mari Energies. Hub Power and Maple Leaf Cement also saw significant selling pressure.
Trading activity surged, indicating robust market participation. The overall volume rose dramatically to 1.2 billion shares, up from the previous session’s close of 673.4 million shares. The total value of traded shares stood at Rs. 41.3 billion. K-Electric emerged as the volume leader with 296.3 million shares changing hands; its share price rose Rs. 0.76 to close at Rs. 5.80.
